Noren amongst the world's best?

Sweden's Alex Noren began Sunday seven shots behind the overnight leaders, only to produce one of the very best final rounds the European Tour has ever seen to win the BMW PGA Championship by two shots.

In what was a display of magnificent ball-striking, Noren fired eight birdies and an eagle on the 18th to break the Wentworth West Course record and claim the European Tour's flagship event. This win - his 5th in the past 12 months - sees Noren now sitting 8th in the World Rankings, firmly established amongst the world's elite heading into the second major of the year in a few weeks' time.

But there was also another story which grabbed our attention from the week's play at Wentworth. Ernie Els chipped in for eagle from the rough at the par-5 12th only to proceed to call a two-shot penalty on himself for putting his ball back in the wrong position from a plugged lie. After his round Els explained that he had lifted and checked whether his ball was plugged before he hit his shot, and was uncomfortable with how the ball came out and wouldn't have been able to live with his actions had he not called a penalty on himself.

A brilliant display of honesty and sportsmanship from the 'Big Easy' when he could easily have picked his ball out of the hole and marched on to the next tee without saying a word.

View the best shots from the week here. 


The end of Tiger?

Now what for Tiger Woods? More details emerged on Tuesday, including the facts that Woods was found asleep at the wheel, did not seem to know where he was and, perhaps most alarmingly, that there was damage to the black Mercedes in which he was behind the wheel, specifically flat tires on the driver's side as well as damage to the front and rear bumpers and a broken tail light. 

Click here to read on.


 

Make your swing "ageless" like Bernhard Langer

In theory, PGA Champions players should have a shelf life. After all, every year there's a new set of 50-year-olds to put pressure on the ageing stars. 

But 59-year-old Bernhard Langer is showing no signs of slowdown. Langer blew the field away at the Regions Tradition, shooting a 64 to win his eighth senior major, tying Jack Nicklaus for the most all-time. 

Langer did it pretty much the way he always has by driving the ball accurately and giving himself lots of birdie chances. He hit 80% of his fairways and 85% of his greens, and made just four bogeys to go with his 24 birdies. 

I personally believe Langer's mind is definitely stronger than most, but what he does with his swing is something easier for most players to copy. 

Why is it that some players like Langer, Sam Snead and Tom Watson seem to be able to play forever without getting hurt, and they're always around the leaderboard? 

I'd argue that it's because they're 'structurally sound.' At address, Langer has all of his joints lined up over each other shoulders, hips, knees and ankles. 

He puts the least amount of stress on the muscles around the spine, and he's able to consistently accelerate the joints in sequence. He's in position to do the same thing over and over, without no pain or restriction. Doing it this way puts the load and stress on your joints which are designed to handle it and not your back, which isn't. 

"Centration," as I like to call it, won't make the putts for you, but starting that way will make you more likely to avoid having to add compensations into your swing. 

Plus, you'll be way ready for your next game out on the course. 

For any helpful hints, tips or a lesson, come in to the Shop and see the Myself, Jack or Glenn who are all more than happy to help you improve your game.